The European Values Think-Tank presents a representative survey among residents of the Czech Republic conducted by the STEM agency. The level of trust towards disinformation spread by alternative media was tested. Based on this data, Disinformation Index was created. The project was done together with Slovak Atlantic Commission within framework of “GLOBSEC Trends”.

In our latest paper Jakub Janda and Ondřej Kundra have written on the topic of the current state of influence of the Russian Federation in the Czech Republic. The authors identify primary interests of the Russian Federation in the Czech Republic, give examples of these related operations and provide an analytical structure to describe the influence of foreign powers. Číst dále →

Nowadays, due to the endless possibilities of spreading unverified information, especially with the help of social networks, which are often used for political gains, hundreds of politicians, journalists and analysts use the term “disinformation”. As political and expert community struggles to use shared typology on this matter, analysts speak about this phenomenon in a similar way, but there are dozens of interpretations of what each term means and how it is perceived. That causes inaction and exhausting need for never-ending explanations of what means what. Therefore, we are summing up already existing definitions and frameworks. Číst dále →

Political parties which are building on identity populism have already been gaining ground across Europe for the past several years. They are now stronger than ever in the European Parliament with two political groups (Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy, Europe of Nations and Freedom) and many other MEPs among the non-attached and within other groups accounting for up to one fifth of the house. Furthermore, almost all new regional and national elections held in the EU member states show that anti-immigration, anti-minorities, anti-EU, and anti-establishment rhetoric is an increasingly attractive offer for the voters. Číst dále →

The hybrid warfare that Russia has been waging against Europe and the West, especially since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis is a fight for people’s minds and souls. Russia does not only try to undermine trust in Europe and its institutions among its citizens, but it also aims to offer an alternative. We present this joint analytical paper by Political Capital with contributions by Jakub Janda and Ondřej Kundra, investigative journalist and Head of Political Desk at Czech Weekly Respekt.

This paper sheds light on organisations operating in Europe that are funded by the Russian government, whether officially or unofficially. These include government-organised non-governmental organisations (GONGOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and think tanks.

Their goal is to shift European public opinion towards a positive view of Russian politics and policies, and towards respect for its great power ambitions. In light of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine, the overt or covert support for these organisations must become a matter of concern to the EU.

The EU’s politicians and citizens should look at the activities of the Russian GONGOs and think tanks as challenges that can help improve national and EU-level decision-making mechanisms, increase transparency in policymaking and deepen the involvement of citizens and civil society organisations in the democratic process.

The paper recommends, among other measures, fostering the EU’s own narrative, which is based on human rights, freedom and equality; supporting pro-democratic civil society so that Europeans become more resistant to Russian propaganda; and increasing transparency requirements for NGOs and lobbyists by setting up a mandatory lobbying register at the EU level.

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, fulfilled its commitment at the June European Council meeting introducing a new European Union foreign policy strategy- an estimated thirteen years after the Solana´s European Security Strategy.

But the new EU strategy is too abstract and provides minimum specific guidelines. Challenges and threats are not classified and their definitions are often vague. The main downside of the document is its excessive idyllic nature and ambiguity. Document is missing further characterization and development of concepts such as strategic communication, durability, and integrated approaches to conflict or EU-NATO cooperation.

Among its positive aspects is the explicit naming of Russian aggression in the Crimea including strategic communication as a tool of war against disinformation and fulfilment of international commitments vis-a-vis Sustainable Development Goals and/or development aid. Despite all expectations, the Global strategy is a product whose added value can be effectively doubted. Please read below our complete evaluation.

We present our complex strategy “50 Measures to Oust Kremlin Hostile Disinformation Influence out of Europe“. This paper has been consulted with several dozens of state and non-state diplomatic, academic, security and intelligence professionals. The author would like to express his gratitude for their inputs and feedback. Special thanks goes to Ben Nimmo, Peter Pomerancev, Stefan Meister, Yevhen Fedchenko, Jakub Kalenský and Peter Kreko. Číst dále →